Friday, November 30, 2012

The stage is set for the final regular season football games of the year, and one of the best will be in Reno, Nevada, where the homestanding Wolf Pack will host Boise State. Nevada coach Chris Ault has revitalized his team and his career in recent years with Ault's groundbreaking "pistol" offense.There are two main keys to stopping the pistol offense in general and in stopping this year's Nevada offense that I will focus on.

#1: Stefphon Jefferson, running back

Jefferson has, to this point in the season, been unstoppable. He's done far better this season (142 yards per game) than Boise State's top rusher, D.J. Harper (85 yards per game). If the Bronco defense wants to clue in on how good Jefferson is, he's better than Le'Veon Bell, whom Boise State could not stop en route to a season-opening loss vs. the six-loss Michigan State team. Jefferson is #2 in the nation in rushing, ahead of Bell, who is #3. You can bet Jefferson has the personal goal of finishing the season as the leading rusher in all of college football, and he'll look to do that against the Boise State defense.

#2: Cody Fajardo, quarterback

One of the main reasons Boise State couldn't beat Nevada the last time these two played in Reno was that they couldn't stop quarterback Colin Kaepernick, especially on crucial downs. Other than the fact that Kaepernick will go down in history as one of the top dual threats in college football, the main reason they couldn't stop him is simple: they didn't play like they knew how to stop the option.The best way to understand Nevada's pistol offense is to realize that it all centers on the moment of decision for the quarterback. Upon the snap, the quarterback will often stand sideways and the running back will come behind him as if to take the handoff. This is the be-all, end-all moment for the defense. The quarterback will either hand the ball off, in which case the running back generally takes the ball up the middle, or the quarterback will pull the ball back. At this point, the QB will either head to one side of the field, still with the option to pitch it to the running back, or he will step back and throw it. This moment of decision for the quarterback is what makes it so tough to defend, because at that point, the defense has no clue what is to happen. The analysis below is based on that realization, and stresses the importance of being there at this moment of decision.To be fair, very few college coaches have seen the option enough to know how to stop it, and fewer college football players have seen it. For the secret, you have to turn to old-timers who are very familiar with it. The #1 key to stopping the option is to tackle the quarterback. Two years ago, Boise State players would wait to see if Kaepernick handed off the ball, then when he didn't ran downfield with Kaepernick, waiting for him to pitch the ball. Big mistake. Nope, when Fajardo rolls out to either the right or left, the Bronco outside linebacker meeting him has to nail him every single time, whether he keeps the ball or hands it off. Not three yards downfield, but right there at the line of scrimmage. Every single time he rolls out, Fajardo should hit the turf. The other Bronco players on that side of the field (the middle linebacker, the cornerback and the safety) need to be converging on the outside, where the ball will likely be pitched to Jefferson, and make gang tackling on Jefferson the order of the day.And, if Fajardo hands the ball to Jefferson, more often than not, he'll be headed up the middle into the teeth of the Bronco defense. To take the pressure of the middle linebacker already wary of outside pitches, it will be crucial for the Bronco linemen to fight off their blocks and make the play.Nevada uses deception in the pistol as well as anyone, and the truth is that there is not time to react to the play once Fajardo either keeps it or hands it off. The only way to slow down the pistol is to be there at Fajardo's moment of decision to take him down.Sound simple? Yes and no. If Boise State's defense executes the above, absolutely. If not, and that Bronco meeting Fajardo at the line of scrimmage tries to play both Fajardo and Jefferson, it results in big yards every time for Nevada. Playing the option is not simple because the key defender tends to want to let his athletic skills come into play rather than doing his job. Many defenses will beef up their chances of stopping the option by placing eight or nine guys in the box in the area directly in front of the Nevada linemen near the line of scrimmage. This makes it difficult for the offense to block everyone, and someone will shoot through the nail the ball carrier. The pistol is designed to negate this strategy, as more receivers will line up on the outside, forcing the defensive backs to play outside rather than in the box.This makes the play of the middle linebacker even more important, since most of the defensive backs are busy with their assignments of covering receivers and fighting off those blocks. It also highlights that outside linebacker who must tackle Fajardo every time he rolls out. If he can do that and take Fajardo out of the play at the line of scrimmage, and the middle linebacker comes over to make the stop on Jefferson, preferably with help from at least one of the defensive backs, the Broncos can take away the main strength of the pistol offense.So too can the importance of the outside linebackers not be overstated. In the photo above, Fajardo is not looking at Jefferson, but rather at the outside linebacker. If the 'backer is moving inside to stop the handoff, Fajardo has a pretty good idea he can beat him to the outside. So against the pistol, the outside linebackers have to stay home to thwart that threat.Complicating matters considerably is the fact that Nevada runs the pistol at its most efficient--they invented it. Their players are well-schooled in executing the offense, and they run the option tremendously well. No one is going to completely stop the option. Boise State's goal is to hold rushes to no more than three or four yards, and to completely stop them on third down.Fajardo is not one of the top passers, although at #39 he too ranks ahead of his Boise State counterpart (Joe Southwick at #45), he is probably on par with Kaepernick for most of his career. What makes the pistol effective is the ability of the quarterback to throw; just when you think you have the option stopped, Fajardo steps back and tosses it for a first down.As for the Nevada defense, they will play their best game of the season tomorrow, not only because they are playing Boise State and will be fired up, but because they are playing Boise State. You see, Boise State's offense isn't up to par with past years, so even though the Wolf Pack defense isn't amongst the nation's leaders, they'll look like it because they'll be playing a less dangerous offense than others they've played this season. The crowd in Reno will be wild in anticipation of a second straight home win over the Broncos and will be pumping their defense up throughout.This will be the last meeting in this great rivalry for at least a few years, as Boise State is headed for the Big East Conference, another reason Nevada will be fired up, as they want to send the Broncos packing with a loss. Hopefully, the teams can come to terms with an extended non-conference deal that can continue the rivalry.The game will be televised live on ABC beginning at 1:30.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Thanks to the idiotic Harris Poll voters, which kept UCLA and Oregon State the same despite both getting creamed yesterday, Boise State only moved from 22-20 in the BCS Standings.Hope the establishment is happy. Of course, maybe Boise State could lose to Nevada this week and move up next week (insert sarcastic laugh here)...

The voters of the Harris Poll moved Kent State from 25-18, right behind Boise State. That, along with help from the computers, puts Kent State in position for a BCS Bowl provided they beat Northern Illinois. The polls next week will determine the story, but unless they widen the gap between Boise State and the MAC, or pull the shenanigans they pull with Boise State, Kent State is in.

It appears Boise State will be behind Kent State in the BCS Standings and Northern Illinois is right behind. So barring something crazy next week in the polls, the MAC Champion will be in the BCS instead of Boise State.

When you see polls with wild week-to-week swings, it generally means the voters are reacting to the latest results rather than thinking through the process. If they have the rankings right, the teams in fact shouldn't move much, as you will note week to week in this poll later in the year as the season progresses. This week, the top seven has been in that top seven for five straight weeks, a sign that they have been ranked where they should be.Remember as you follow the rankings that since both the Pac-12 and Big 12 had a request from Boise State to join their respective leagues and they did not invite the Broncos, the "strength-of-schedule" argument does not work against Boise State for those two conferences, and thus their teams will always be ranked behind Boise State with the same number of losses. As it should be. You can't deny a team a place in your conference and then complain about their strength of schedule. A team that beats another head-to-head on the field will always be ranked ahead of that team if they have the same record. As it should be. If the winner of that game has more losses, further evaluation regarding the closeness and location of the game needs to take place, as well as week-to-week evaluation of all season results.

10-9-14-18-17-14-11-10-10-11. Florida State (10-2, lost to #6 Florida 37-26; biggest win over #17 Clemson, losses to #6 Florida and North Carolina State)15-13-11-10-9-9-12-11-11-12. Boise State (9-2, did not play this week; biggest wins over Fresno State and BYU, losses to Michigan State and San Diego State)17-19-16-11-10-11-13-12-13-13. Oklahoma (9-2, rallied to beat #24 Oklahoma State 51-48 on overtime; biggest wins over #18 Texas and #23 Oklahoma State, lost to #1 Notre Dame and #3 Kansas State)---------------------21-23-21-18-14. Nebraska (10-2, defeated Iowa 13-7; biggest wins over Michigan and Wisconsin, lost to #19 UCLA and Ohio State)---------------------23-24-22-20-15. Kent State (11-1, defeated Ohio 28-6; biggest win over Rutgers, lost to Kentucky)20-17-15-8-7-10-9-15-15-16. Oregon State (8-3, fell to #4 Oregon 48-24; biggest wins over #19 UCLA and Wisconsin, losses to #4 Oregon, #10 Stanford and Washington)15-23-20-20-20-19-17-16-16-17. Clemson (10-2, lost 27-17 to #9 South Carolina; biggest win over Georgia Tech, losses to #9 South Carolina and #10 Florida State)

Kent State will gain computer points this week and could pass Boise State in the human polls tomorrow. Boise State will gain in the computers, but is unlikely to rank in the Top 25 in any of the six computers. And, if they get in for the Billingsley ratings, it won't count because the BCS throws the high and low computer ratings.Therefore, if Kent State wins next week over Northern Illinois, they will likely finish ahead of Boise State in the BCS Standings. If Northern Illinois wins, Boise State has a good chance to finish ahead, provided they are fortunate enough to beat Nevada.

Navy has accepted a bid in the Fight Hunger Bowl; they'll play a Pac-12 team.Utah State has accepted a berth in the Idaho Potato Bowl vs. a MAC team.BYU has accepted a bid in the Poinsettia Bowl vs. San Diego State.Air Force has accepted a bid to play in the Armed Forces Bowl.Louisiana-Lafayette has accepted to play in the New Orleans Bowl.Nevada has accepted a bid to the New Mexico Bowl.San Jose State has accepted a bid to play in the Military Bowl.SMU has accepted a bid to play in the Hawai'i Bowl.

I knew this several days ago, but had to keep it under wraps. We can now report it officially--defensive tackle Kamalei Correa has committed to Boise State.Correa is 6-4, 230 from St. Louis High School in Honolulu, Hawai'i. He chose the Broncos over scholarship offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Hawai'i, Kansas, Oregon State, San Diego State, Utah, Washington State and Wyoming and interest from Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, TCU and Washington.

Friday, November 23, 2012

#1 Notre Dame prevailed over USC 22-13.#2 Alabama blanked Auburn 49-0.#3 Georgia crushed Georgia Tech 42-10.#4 Florida rallied to beat #10 Florida State 37-26.#5 Oregon defeated #15 Oregon State 48-24.
#6 Kansas State was idle.#7 LSU struggled to beat Arkansas 20-13.#8 Stanford ran away from #17 UCLA 35-17.#9 Texas A&M blew away Missouri 59-29.#10 Florida State lost to #4 Florida 37-26.#11 Clemson lost at home to #12 South Carolina 27-17.#12 South Carolina topped supposed #11 Clemson 27-17#13 Oklahoma trailed the whole game but nipped #21 Oklahoma State at the end, 51-48 on OT.#14 Nebraska edged 4-8 Iowa 13-7.#15 Oregon State scored a few points late but got creamed by #5 Oregon 48-24.#16 Texas lost to TCU 20-13.#17 UCLA fell 35-17 to #8 Stanford.#18 New Big Ten invitee Rutgers lost to Pittsburgh 24-6.#19 Michigan lost to Ohio State 26-21.#20 Louisville lost in three overtimes to Connecticut 23-20.#21 Oklahoma State lost the lead and the game to #13 Oklahoma 51-48 in overtime.
#22 Boise State was idle.#23 Kent State pounded Ohio 28-6.#24 Arizona lost 41-34 to Arizona State.#25 Washington lost to Washington State 35-28 in overtime.

UNLV plays at Hawai'iSan Diego State beat Wyoming 42-28.Fresno State grounded Air Force 48-15.New Mexico was surprised by Colorado State 24-20.BYU outclassed New Mexico State 50-14.Michigan State finally won a game, beating Minnesota 26-10.Southern Mississippi lost to Memphis 42-24.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Promising defensive tackle Nick Terry from Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove, California has committed to Boise State.Terry (6-4, 260) visited Boise State earlier this month and left very impressed. With Boise State losing three defensive tackles after this year, it was a position of emphasis and Terry was the right man at the right time.Terry visited Washington State of the Pac-12 but canceled a trip to Oregon State. He also had offers from Fresno State, Colorado State, UNLV and Cal Poly.

This was the scene two years ago in Reno, Nevada. There are dozens of stories of how Boise State fans were treated, but this is how your Boise State teammates were treated after the loss.Exorcise some demons and win one for your Bronco teammates...

Boise State took over the all-time lead for the best winning percentage in the history of college football two years ago, and the Broncos aren't looking back.As of now, sporting a 9-2 season record, Boise State is now 167-46, a sizzling winning percentage of 78.40%. Michigan is the next-closest college football team with an overall record of 903-313-36 for a percentage of 73.56%. Notre Dame is in third with a percentage of 73.38% (864-300-42), Oklahoma has won 71.83% (829-309-53), while Texas stands at 71.69% (866-332-33), Ohio State is at 71.58% (836-316-53) and Alabama has won 71.17% of their games (824-321-43).

When you judge the top college football teams in history, certainly longevity has to rank among your most important factors. With Boise State's 42-14 win over Colorado State yesterday, Boise State has now eclipsed the modern record for the most wins in a 15-year period. The great Seminole teams from 1987-2001 held the existing mark of 160-23-1, but the Broncos topped that mark with their win yesterday. Since 1998, Boise State is now 161-29, and they have two games to play to try to add to their total.

With Boise State's 42-14 win over Colorado State, the Broncos broke their own existing modern record for the most wins by a college football team in an 11-year period. Last season, Boise State set the modern mark with an 11-year record of 126-17 (from 2001-2011). But the 2002-2012 Broncos have now won 127 games against 15 defeats with two games to play.

When Bobby Bowden's Florida State Seminoles consistently were among the best teams in the nation from 1987-2000, and put together a 152-19-1 mark, it seemed like a safe modern record. That is until Boise State came along.Boise State tied that record last season when they put together a 152-27 record from 1998-2011. Now, the record belongs exclusively to the Broncos. The Broncos have now won 155 games over a 14-year period that began in 1999. Boise State is 155-24 in that 14-year span with two games remaining.

Boise State has now become the only team in college football history to have a winning seasons percentage above 88%. The Broncos have posted winning seasons in 15 of their 17 years in major college football, a percentage of 88.2%. Alabama is next with 84.6% (88 of 104 seasons) while Notre Dame has enjoyed winning seasons in 91 of 111 seasons (82.0%).For purposes of comparison, a team must have won at least six games and must have played at least eight games in a season for that season to count in compiling the statistics.

When you see polls with wild week-to-week swings, it generally means the voters are reacting to the latest results rather than thinking through the process. If they have the rankings right, the teams in fact shouldn't move much, as you will note week to week in this poll later in the year as the season progresses. This week, the top seven has been in that top seven for five straight weeks, a sign that they have been ranked where they should be.Remember as you follow the rankings that since both the Pac-12 and Big 12 had a request from Boise State to join their respective leagues and they did not invite the Broncos, the "strength-of-schedule" argument does not work against Boise State for those two conferences, and thus their teams will always be ranked behind Boise State with the same number of losses. As it should be. You can't deny a team a place in your conference and then complain about their strength of schedule. A team that beats another head-to-head on the field will always be ranked ahead of that team if they have the same record. As it should be. If the winner of that game has more losses, further evaluation regarding the closeness and location of the game needs to take place, as well as week-to-week evaluation of all season results.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

With Boise State's 42-14 win over Colorado State tonight, the Broncos have now won nine or more games in 11 consecutive seasons. That ties Boise State with the legendary Alabama teams from 1971-1981 for sixth place all-time. Nebraska put together the sensational record of 33 straight years in winning nine or more games from 1969-2001. The Cornhuskers are in the stratosphere in this category with a 19-season lead on the next best team.Here is the list of the top teams to win nine or more games in consecutive seasons:1. Nebraska (33--1969-2001)2. Florida State (14--1987-2000)3. Yale (13--1886-1898)4. Texas (12--1998-2009)4. Florida (12--1990-2001)6. Boise State (11--2002-20126. Alabama (11--1971-1981)8. Miami of Florida (10--1985-1994)8. Oklahoma (10--1971-1980)10. Pennsylvania (9--1890-1898)10. Harvard (9--1886-1894)12. Virginia Tech (8--2004-2011)12. USC (8--2002-2009)12. Miami of Florida (8--1998-2005)12. Ohio State (8--1979-1986)12. Yale (8--1900-1907)

Friday, November 16, 2012

The members of the 2012 Boise State senior class have helped their team to a 46-4 record over the last four seasons, the best college football record in the nation. They have made contributions far beyond the football field, however. Below are some of the finest young men you'll ever know--many have won acclaim in the classroom, and they all will experience success the rest of their lives.

As we get ready to bid farewell to these outstanding seniors, Blue Through and Through salutes these members of the 2012 class:

#54 OL Michael Ames

Ames began his Bronco career with a bang, starting on the
offensive line and helping Boise State defeat Oregon in Eugene. Michael started eight games his freshman
season, helping Boise State score 42.2 points per game. The Broncos averaged 186 rushing yards and
450 yards of total offense. Ames was
part of the line that was #1 in the nation for allowing just five quarterback
sacks, and blocked for four different 100-yard rushers. At the end of the season, Michael was named
to the Western Athletic Conference All-Academic team.

Ames did not appear in any games in 2010, then was a reserve
offensive lineman in seven games as a junior.
This year, he has started six games for the Broncos.

#99 DT Michael Atkinson

“Bacon”, as he is affectionately known, redshirted in 2008,
when he was named Boise State’s Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year. Atkinson played in nine games in 2009,
finishing the season with nine tackles, including one tackle for loss and one
pass break-up. Michael was named to the
WAC All-Academic Team after his freshman season.

In 2010, Atkinson recorded 10 tackles, four of them solo,
with 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble. Last year, Michael started six games for the
Bronco defense and helped Boise State rank 12th in the country in
scoring defense (18.69 points per game), 16th in total defense
(320.85 yards per game) and 17th in rushing defense (110.00). Atkinson had 31 tackles, 12 of them solo,
including 2.5 for loss and two pass break-ups.

This year, Atkinson had 37 tackles, 18 solo, with 3.5
tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles with one recovery and an
interception returned for 32 yards and a touchdown that beat BYU prior to going
out with an ACL against San Diego State.

In his Bronco career, Atkinson has posted 86 tackles, 37 of
them solo, with eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

#19 CB Josh Borgman

Borgman began making a name for himself as a “gunner” on the
Boise State kickoff and punt units in 2009, playing in 12 games and recording
11 tackles, 10 of them solo.

As a sophomore, Borgman appeared in nine games and recorded
seven tackles, four of them solo. He
also returned four punts for 31 yards (7.8 yards per return).

Borgman starred on the Boise State special teams last season,
recording 16 tackles, 10 of them solo, including four solo tackles and a fumble
recovery against San Diego State. Josh
has seven tackles this year, one pass break-up and two fumble recoveries.

It is safe to say that Borgman has become one of the top
gunners in Boise State history, delivering punishing blow after blow to
would-be returners.

#20 WR Mitch Burroughs

Burroughs redshirted in 2008 and was named Boise State’s
Offensive Scout Player of the Year. He played
in 13 games in 2009 with one start and grabbed nine passes for 83 yards and a
touchdown on the season.

In 2010, Burroughs appeared in eight games with one start,
recording six reception for 59 yards. He
also returned eight punts for 127 yards (15.9 yards per return).

Last season, Burroughs started seven games and ranked third
on the Bronco team with 49 receptions and 500 receiving yards. He also hauled in a TD reception in the
season opener. Mitch carried 17 times
for 94 yards and two touchdowns, including a 25-yard touchdown against Fresno
State. Burroughs doubled as the nation’s
#8 punt returner, averaging 13.3 yards on 18 returns, including a 64-yard
return against Colorado State. Burroughs
also returned five kickoffs for 114 yards.
His 947 all-purpose yards in 2011 ranked third on the team.

This year, Burroughs caught 12 passes for 124 yards, ran
twice for 26 yards and returned two kickoffs for a 31.0 average prior to
suffering a season-ending injury.

Burroughs finished his career with 78 catches for 775 yards
and two touchdowns. He returned 29 punts
for 363 yards (12.5 avg.).

#84
PK Michael Frisina

Frisina
came to Boise State after earning all-conference honors at Saddleback Junior
College and finishing as the highest-scoring kicker in school history.

Last
season, Frisina played in five games and was 3-4 on field goals and 21-23 on
extra point tries, including hitting 8-8 against Arizona State in the Las
Vegas Bowl.

This
year, Frisina is 10-15 on field goals and 32-33 on extra points for 62
points.

#4 CB Jerrell Gavins

Gavins is yet another in a long line of walk-on success
stories. He joined the team in 2009
after one year at El Camino Junior College.

Gavins played in 12 games as a sophomore with two starts,
including lining up against #4 TCU in Boise State’s win over #4 TCU. He finished the year with 31 tackles, 23 of
them solo, with four pass break-ups and 1.5 tackles for loss. Gavins also returned three kickoffs for a
sterling 37.3 average, including a long of 49 yards.

In 2010, Gavins saw action in all 13 games with one
start. He finished the year with 30
tackles, 15 of them solo, with 1.5 tackles for loss and .5 sacks. He also had an interception and three pass
break-ups.

Gavins was off to a roaring start last season when he
suffered a season-ending injury in his third game. Gavins recorded a pick in the opening win at
Georgia and was one of the nation’s leaders in interceptions (3) when he was
hurt. In fact, Gavins’ three
interceptions in the three games were the most by a Bronco for the entire
year. Jerrell had 11 tackles, nine of
them solo, and broke up three passes.

Jerrell has 25 tackles, three pass break-ups, a fumble
recovery returned for 16 yards and a touchdown and two interceptions this
season.

In his great Boise State career, Gavins has 97 tackles, six
interceptions and 13 pass break-ups.

#91 DT Greg Grimes

Grimes redshirted in 2008 and saw limited action in four
games in 2009 after missing the first part of the year with an injury. He was able to record three tackles on the
season.

In 2010, Grimes played in three games and was credited with
a tackle.

Last season, Greg appeared in 11 games and registered 14
tackles, five of them solo, with one for loss and half a sack. This year, Grimes has 21 tackles, eight for
solo and one for loss.

#7 RB D.J. Harper

The “Texas Tornado” has been a thrill to watch. His determination and uncanny breakaway speed
have made Harper one of the most dangerous runners in school history.

In 2007, Harper enjoyed the sixth-best rushing season by a
freshman in Boise State history with 376 yards and five touchdowns. D.J. became the first Boise State true
freshman since 1988 to rush for more than 100 yards in a game when he exploded
for 153 yards and a touchdown at Fresno State.
Harper also caught three passes for 13 yards and scored a touchdown
against East Carolina in the Hawai’i Bowl.

The following season, Harper rushed 55 times for 278 yards
and four scores and caught four passes for 37 yards. He also returned a kickoff for 21 yards.

With high hopes as a junior, Harper played in three games
before suffering a season-ending injury against Fresno State. Up to that point, Harper had 44 carries for
284 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and three touchdowns.

In 2010, Harper had 18 carries for an incredible 160 yards
and two touchdowns in just three games.
His breakaway speed shocked Virginia Tech when Harper sped to the
sideline and scored a 71 yard touchdown run against the #10 Hokies. Harper also caught four passes for 36 yards
and was off to a great season when he suffered an injury in the third game.

D.J. was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA
after suffering season-ending injuries in the third game of both the 2009 and
2010 season.

Harper was Boise State’s second-leading rusher last season
with 557 yards on 115 carries (4.8 yards per carry), including two 100-yard
efforts and a career-high nine rushing touchdowns. D.J. also caught 19 passes for 140 yards and
a touchdown , returned five kickoff returns for 66 yards and showed his
versatility by blocking a punt against Tulsa.

This year, Harper has carried 178 times for 828 yards (4.7
avg.) and 12 touchdowns. He has also caught 16 passes for 120 yards and 1
touchdown, returned seven kickoffs for a 26.7 average and scored twice on
two-point conversions.

In his amazing career, Harper has run for 2,483 yards (8th-best
in school history) and 36 touchdowns (#5 on the all-time list).

#15 WR Tyler Jackson

Jackson came to Boise State as the winner of the Denver Post
Gold Helmet Award, presented annually to Colorado’s top senior football player,
scholar and citizen, and a first team all-state performer. Jackson redshirted in 2008 and played as a
back-up safety his freshman season in 2009.
Tyler switched to offense in his sophomore year and played in three
games. At the conclusion of the season,
Tyler was named to the WAC All-Academic Team.

Last season, Jackson played in eight games, primarily on
special teams, but caught his first career pass against Colorado State for 10
yards. Tyler also recorded a solo tackle
against New Mexico. Jackson has one
catch this season for three yards.

#61 OG Joe Kellogg

Kellogg redshirted in 2008, then played in 10 games as a
freshman with one start in 2009 and was named to the WAC All-Academic Team.

In 2010, Joe moved into the starting lineup and started 10
games at left guard. He and his
offensive line mates helped the team rank second in the nation in total offense
(521.31 yards per game), second in scoring (45.08) and sixth in passing offense
(321.08). The Boise State line gave up
just .62 sacks per game, third in the country.
Joe was named to the WAC All-Academic Team at the end of the season.

Last year, Kellogg started in 11 games and helped Boise
State lead the nation by allowing just .62 sacks per game. Kellogg was a key cog in a unit that ranked
fifth nationally in scoring (44.23 points per game), ninth in total offense
(481.31) and 11th in passing offense (309.38). Joe has eight starts at guard for the Broncos
this year.

#88 TE Chandler Koch

Koch came to Boise State after being ranked as the #3 tight
end in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and ranked #35 nationally by ESPN.com. After redshirting in 2008, Koch played in
nine games as a reserve tight end and on special teams. He caught two passes for 17 yards and
finished the season by earning membership on the WAC All-Academic Team.

Koch played in 10 games in 2010 with two receptions for four
yards. Chandler also was named to the
WAC All-Academic Team.

Last year, Koch played in 11 games with two starts,
including helping the Broncos blow out Arizona State in the Las Vegas
Bowl. He showed his skill as a blocker
and also caught four passes for 39 yards.
This season, Koch has one catch for 11 yards.

#95 DT Darren Koontz

Koontz has come a long way since he redshirted in 2008. He played in 11 games in 2009 and finished
with 10 tackles, three of them solo and 2 tackles for loss. Darren was named to the WAC All-Academic Team
as a freshman.

Koontz did not find the field in 2010 but last season,
Koontz played in nine games and had five tackles, three of them solo. Darren saved the best for last. This year, he has 23 tackles, 13 of them
solo, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

#24 DB Hazen Moss

Like Borgman, Moss has become a special teams star. After redshirting in 2008, Moss played in
eight games in 2009 and recorded 10 tackles, seven of them solo. As a sophomore, he played in 12 games with
six tackles, two of them solo, and a forced fumble. Hazen was named to the WAC All-Academic Team
in both 2009 and 2010.

Last season, Moss recorded 11 tackles, seven of them solo
while this year, Moss has posted three tackles thus far.

#64 PG Brenel Myers

Brenel played in six games in 2009 after redshirting in
2008. He started in two games, including
against #4 TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, in which he neutralized Horned Frog star
Jerry Hughes. Myers played in 11 games in
2010 with two starts, including one in the win over #10 Virginia Tech. As a junior Myers played in eight games and
he has started nine games this year.

#48 FB Dan Paul

Paul greyshirted before joining the Broncos in 2008. Originally, he played linebacker but switched
from linebacker to fullback and played in 12 games as a blocking back and on
special teams. He has two tackles on the
season. In 2009, Paul played in 13 games
and moved into the starting position after Richie Brockel’s season-ending
injury. He was a key blocker for the
Bronco rushing game that averaged 194.5 yards and game. Dan also caught four passes for 40 yards and
three touchdowns. Paul was named to the
WAC All-Academic Team in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. As a junior, Paul was the primary fullback
and started four games. He hauled in
seven receptions for 30 yards. Paul
excelled at blocking, helping Boise State finish second in the nation in total
offense with 521.31 yards a game and 21st in rushing offense
(200.23).

Paul redshirted last
season due to injuries. He has one catch
for one yard and a touchdown this year.

#48 LB J.C. Percy

After redshirting in 2008, Percy played in all 14 games as a
freshman, starting three. He finished
with 64 tackles to rank second on the team and recorded 4.5 tackles for loss,
.5 sacks, two pass break-ups, one forced fumble and the recovery. J.C. earned recognition on the WAC
All-Academic Team after his freshman season.
In 2010, J.C. played in 13 games with three starts. He finished the year with 65 tackles, 30 of
them solo, including 4 for loss and one sack as well as a forced fumble. He had 14 tackles against Louisiana Tech. At the end of the year, J.C. was named to the
WAC All-Academic Team once again.

Percy played in 13
games last season and ranked fifth on the team with 48 tackles, 19 of them
solo, and one tackle for loss. He also
forced a fumble, had an interception and broke up a pass. J.C. was the co-winner of Boise State’s
Special Teams Player of the Year Award.

This year, J.C. has 82 tackles, 32 more than the second top
tackler on the team. He has 49 solo
stops, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack and a pass break-up.

Percy has totaled 259 tackles in his great career with 129
solo stops and 13 tackles for loss. He
ranks #22 in the history of Boise State football in career tackles.

#3 WR Chris Potter

After redshirting, Potter played in 12 games in 2009 and
caught eight passes for 60 yards. He
also returned 10 punts for a 12.9-yard average and was named to the WAC
All-Academic Team as a freshman. In
2010, Potter played in all 13 games, catching eight passes for 125 yards and a
touchdown, including a 78-yard score against New Mexico State. Potter also rushed six times for 33 yards and
completed 1-2 passes for 26 yards. Chris
also averaged 13.32 yards on punt returns, 13th in the nation, and
scored on a 76-yard return against Idaho.
Potter was named to the WAC All-Academic Team in 2010.

As a junior, Potter played in 10 games, including his first
start. Chris finished the year with 11
receptions for 105 yards and ranked 21st in the country with 10.50
yards per punt return, second in the Mountain West to teammate Mitch Burroughs.

In 2012, Potter is averaging 11.9 yards per punt return and
has caught 18 passes for 235 yards and three scores.

Potter has 45 catches in his Bronco career for 525 yards and
four touchdowns. He has returned 64
punts for 783 yards (12.2 avg.) and one touchdown.

#44 LS Chris Roberson

Roberson walked on prior to the 2009 season and he hasn’t
looked back. Chris was the guy at
that position for 40 straight games in his freshman, sophomore and junior
seasons and has been the long snapper for Boise State most of this season as well.

#6 N Dextrell Simmons

Simmons transferred from Blinn Junior College to Boise
State. He played in all 13 games in 2011
and recorded 16 tackles, 10 of them solo.
He also had one tackle for loss, forced a fumble and broke up two
passes.

Simmons has 34 tackles this year, 22 of them solo. Dextrell has 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack,
one interception and three pass break-ups.

#33 LB Tommy Smith

After redshirting in 2008, Smith played in 12 games as a
freshman, finishing with 23 tackles, 12 solo, and an interception. Tommy was named to the WAC All-Academic Team
at the end of the season. In 2010, Smith
played in 12 games and posted 26 tackles, 10 of them solo, and a forced
fumble. Once again, Smith was named to
the WAC All-Academic Team.

Last season, Smith played in 12 games and started at
fullback against Wyoming. He finished
the year with 18 tackles, 14 of them solo, with three tackles for loss. Smith also caught a pass for 11 yards against
Nevada. This year, Tommy has 44 tackles,
26 of them solo, with 2.5 tackles for loss, half a sack and three pass
break-ups.

Smith has 111 tackles in his solid career with 62 solo and
5.5 tackles for loss.

#5 CB Jamar Taylor

As a sophomore, Taylor started 12 games and posted 35
tackles, 27 of them solo, including 3.5 for loss and one sack. Taylor also forced three fumbles and had two
pass break-ups. At the end of the
season, Jamar was named to the WAC All-Academic Team.

Taylor played 14 games as a true freshman in 2008 and had 24
tackles, 17 of them solo, an interception and one pass break-up. He was named to the WAC All-Academic Team
after his freshman season. Taylor
started nine games last season but missed four games due to injury. He finished with 27 tackles, 18 of them solo,
including 2 for loss with half a sack.
Jamar had two interceptions, but it was his highlight reel 100-yard
interception return for a touchdown against Arizona State that was the turning
point in the Las Vegas Bowl. It was the
longest interception in school history and also the longest in the history of
the bowl game. Taylor also had six pass
break-ups to tie for the team high.

Jamar has 40 stops his senior year, 25 of them solo, with
three tackles for loss, two sacks, three pass break-ups, three forced fumbles
and two interceptions returned for 32 yards.

Taylor now has 126 tackles in his stellar career, with an
incredible 87 of them solo, 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and five
interceptions.

#39 RB Drew Wright

Wright redshirted in 2008 and played in three games the
following season, rushing five times for 55 yards. In 2010, Wright carried 12 times for 38 yards
and was a special teams standout with 14 tackles.

In 2011, Wright was the third-leading rusher for the Broncos
with 43 carries for 218 yards (5.1 average) and three touchdowns. Drew also caught three passes for 17 yards,
returned a kickoff for 26 yards and recorded four tackles on special teams. Wright has 12 rushes for 42 yards this year.

#75 OT Faraji Wright

Wright redshirted in 2008 and saw action in four games his
freshman season as a reserve lineman.
Wright played in eight games including three starts at left guard. He played in 10 games last season as a reserve
lineman and has played in all ten games this year.

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About Me

I have been a fan of Boise State since 1968. In 1975, I won a national Quill & Scroll award for Best Feature Writing. I graduated from Boise State in 1986 with a B.B.A. in Management. Since that time, I have researched and published several articles about the Broncos and have helped to raise $200,000 for the school as well as to sell out season football tickets and various other projects.